SMG Europe buys CGC Events

05 February 2015 by
SMG Europe buys CGC Events

Entertainment venue owner SMG Europe has acquired Leeds-based caterer CGC Events for an undisclosed sum.

SMG, which owns a number of venues in the UK and Europe including Manchester Arena and the First Direct Arena in Leeds, is a wholly owned subsidiary of global venue management business SMG.

It has an annual turnover of £45m, while the combined European group has total revenues of £175m under management.

CGC is an event catering company with an annual turnover of £20m and 200 full time staff, rising to more than 1,000 staff on peak days.

It operates exclusively at eight racecourses in the north of England, including York Racecourse, and also provides match day and non-match day catering at five northern football and rugby stadiums as well as public and event catering at 10 heritage locations including the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate.

In addition to its venue catering, CGC offers catering service at events such as Welcome To Yorkshire's 2014 White Rose Awards and the annual Harrogate Flower Shows.

SMG said the deal will see CGC supplement its own SAVOR catering brand across its venues, which host the likes of Rihanna, Coldplay, Michael McIntyre, Take That, U2 and Phoenix Nights, which is currently in Manchester.

Wes Westley, SMG president and chief executive, commented: "Local knowledge is the foundation of our worldwide success and this acquisition really strengthens our established food and beverage service, SAVOR.

"As the owner of a number of Europe's most prestigious venues, we stage some of the world's biggest acts, so we want to provide our customers with the highest quality experience. CGC is undoubtedly the best in its field and will enable us to extend our offering, so we're delighted to be working alongside the team."

Darran Coulson, managing director of CGC Events, added: "We're very excited to be joining the SMG family. Having established an excellent reputation in the north of the country, we're now looking forward to blending our local knowledge with SMG's global reach and expertise."

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